Happy Hour Alert: Pulpo Is Now Serving Alcohol

Cleveland Park tapas spot Pulpo (3407 Connecticut Ave., NW) opened for dinner a few weeks back, but at the time had not yet secured its all-important liquor license. We can say with certainty, however, that the restaurant in the former Tackle Box space is now serving beer, wine, and cocktails. Co-owner Mike Finkelstein designed the menu of mixed drinks. The best we’ve tried so far is the Cuba Libre Deconstruido—a riff on the classic white rum, lime, and Coca-Cola highball drink with a dark spiced rum from Captain Morgan’s, lime-infused simple syrup, and Coke syrup. The bar was not serving the Gintonic—Hendrick’s, house-made cucumber tonic, and rosemary water—on the night of our visit, but we look forward to trying that one as well.

Wines by the glass include a couple of cavas, a very serviceable vinho verde, and some French and Italian reds. There are six draft beers, including Estrella Damm Lager from Barcelona, Negro Modelo, Matilda from the great Goose Island in Chicago, DC Brau’s Corruption IPA, and Bud Light. Beers in bottles and cans include Shipyard IPA from Portland and 312, Goose Island’s summer wheat ale. Pitchers of three types of sangria (red, white, pink—with rosé wine) and a punch called Agua de Valencia (cava, orange juice, vodka, and gin) are also on offer.

Happy hour lasts from 5 to 7 daily at Pulpo. Consult its Facebook page for details and updates.